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While prize ribbons were being handed out more than
thirty blocks uptown at New York’s Madison Square
Garden during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show,
hundreds of revelers at Dog Show Party 2005 took home
a prize of their own: a greater awareness of the needs
of New York’s at-risk animal population, through
the efforts of event beneficiary Rational Animal.
Held February 15 at the Lower East Side Manhattan music
venue Tonic, Dog Show Party 2005 attracted more than
300 people to a sold-out evening of performances, including
live music from acclaimed singer/songwriter Nellie McKay,
routines by the Dog Show Party Dancers and tongue-in-cheek
running commentary from a trio of downtown comics during
a live airing of the Westminster Dog Show broadcast.
While the event’s theme was lighthearted—part
performance art and part Best in Show-style satire—the
underlying purpose was clear: to make New Yorkers aware
that their own “best in show” dog or cat
is as near as their local shelter. Adoptable animals
from local rescues and shelters appeared onstage, and
guests took the opportunity to search for more pets
via an interactive Pet Ark Animal Rescue Kiosk.
Featured charity Rational Animal held court with an
information booth where visitors donated money and learned
more about the organization’s efforts to produce
media campaigns to raise consciousness for the cause.
The group’s initial successes were showcased on
the big screen: Dog Show Party 2005 marked the public
debut of the public service announcements created by
Rational Animal to encourage adoptions from the city’s
animal shelters, and which are due to air on local channels
soon.
According to event co-producer Jon Bulette—who
helped launch Dog Show Party in Brooklyn in 2004, and
who served as an emcee for the second-annual happening—Rational
Animal was a worthy recipient of the crowd’s generosity.
“We chose Rational Animal as our charity,”
he said, “because they’re tapping into the
city’s creative talent to get the adoption message
out to as many people as possible. We like what they’re
saying: that shelter animals are just as loving, talented
and beautiful as the dogs on show at Westminster. And
unlike the Dog Show handlers, you don’t need to
wear sensible shoes when walking your pet.”
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